Here's how it works: Starting at the beginning of the year (or anytime, really), put away $1 on Week 1, $2 on Week 2…$26 on Week 26, etc. By Week 52, when you make the final $52 deposit, you'll have miraculously saved $1,378!

Another idea is to reverse the chart and save $52 on Week 1 and then on the final week of the year, deposit $1. A more ambitious variation is the 52 Week Mega Money Challenge. Save $5 a week progressively, and net a whopping $6,890.